Toddler Ear Tubes: Making the Decision

Updated: January 29, 2015

If your toddler's been plagued by constant ear infections, you may be wondering whether ear tubes are the answer. Here's what you need to know to make an informed decision.

Toddler ear tubes may be tiny (smaller than the head of a match!), butthey do a big job: draining icky fluid that causes childhood ear infections, pressure, andhearing problems in children. Luckily, tube insertion is a pretty simple procedure, andthose teeny tubes need little maintenance — heck, they even come out bythemselves in about a year. Still, there are some downsides to tubes for ears. Hereare the pros and cons to consider.

Pros:

Ear infections will be (mostly) a thing of the past. Bacteria will have a tougher time breeding once the tubes help trapped fluid trickle out. The result? Fewer painful toddler ear infections for your little one (and less of your time spent comforting a cranky customer).

You can treat future ear infections with drops instead of oral antibiotics. On the off chance your tyke does get an ear infection after the tubes are in, you can insert antibiotic drops right through those toddler ear tubes. Bonus for your little one: She won’t have to chug down any nasty-tasting antibiotics (and you won't have as much trouble coaxing your toddler to take medicine). Plus, her body won’t develop antibiotic resistance, as it can with oral medications.

Toddler ear tubes take away ear tightness. When fluid builds up behind the eardrum, toddlers feel a lot of pressure, much like you feel when you’re on an airplane or in an elevator. Tubes drain the fluid, and less liquid equals less pressure.

Your toddler will hear better now. Toddler ear tubes will make sounds louder and clearer for your critter now, as pent-up liquid flows out through the tubes.

Cons:

Toddler ear tubes require surgery. While it’s quite straightforward to insert toddler ear tubes, it’s still surgery, complete with anesthesia and an IV. The risks are super small for this minor procedure, but they do exist.

Some doctors are too quick to prescribe tubes for ears. A handful of pediatricians see toddler ear tubes as a cure-all. Unless your toddler has had at least four ear infections in six months, tubes for ears probably aren’t necessary.

Toddler ear tubes can be a pricey proposition. Most health-insurance plans cover tube insertion when an ENT recommends them. For parents paying out of pocket, though, the anesthesia and surgery can cost a few thousand dollars.

The day of the surgery can be rough. Although younger kids are usually scheduled for surgery earlier in the morning than grade-schoolers, any kind of waiting is tough for toddlers (and their parents). Toss in the fact that your little one can’t eat or drink before surgery, and she’s likely to be pretty unhappy — not a fun way for either of you to spend a day. But having a happy child who hears well and gets fewer ear infections may make all the toddler whining worth it.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect the Second Year. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.